The Akita has a short double-coat similar to that of many other northern spitz breeds such as the Siberian Husky, but long-coated dogs can be found in many litters due to a recessive gene. The Akita is a powerful, independent and dominant breed, commonly aloof with strangers but affectionate with family members. As a breed, Akitas are generally hardy, but they have been known to suffer from various genetic conditions and be sensitive to certain drugs.
Chemotherapy is not usually a single treatment, but a course of treatments. A course usually takes between 3 to 6 months, but can be more or less than that. The treatment will include one or more chemotherapy drugs that you may have into a vein (intravenous drugs), or as chemotherapy tablets or capsules.
Chemotherapy is a very broad term, so it depends on what type of cancer you have, which drugs you will be taking, and how you'll be taking them. (Some drugs are given orally, some by IV, some by at-home injection.) Chemotherapy can be given for a very limited period of time, or it can be ongoing to keep the cancer under control. Doctors often discuss chemotherapy in terms of cycles, which can be confusing. There are many different drugs used and each drug can be given in a number of different regimens either by itself or in combination with other drugs. A chemotherapy regimen could be once a week for eight weeks, or once every two weeks for 8 cycles, which totals 16 weeks, or once every two weeks for six cycles, totalling 12 weeks. Next time you see or talk to your doctor, ask her to be very specific about which chemotherapy drugs you are taking, how often you will be having chemotherapy, and how long your treatment will last.